Board split on hiring process for Monticello village manager

MONTICELLO — The village has received roughly 30 applications ahead of Monday's application deadline for its open village manager post.

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By Victor Whitman

recordonline.com

By Victor Whitman

Posted Feb. 6, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Victor Whitman

Posted Feb. 6, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

MONTICELLO — The village has received roughly 30 applications ahead of Monday's application deadline for its open village manager post.

Mayor Gordon Jenkins and trustees say the village received resumes from as far away as Ohio, as close as New York City, and from Sullivan County and Monticello residents.

But the board itself appears to be divided on how it should proceed.

Three members who typically vote together — T.C. Hutchins, James Matthews and Larissa Bennett — support hiring a manager and collectively have the votes to pick a person.

"We are looking at the names now," Matthews said, adding that all the board members will be given input on which candidates to offer interviews.

The board was expected to discuss the village manager search at Tuesday's meeting.

Matthews said interviews will be conducted "soon."

Jenkins, who has been the acting village manager since mid-October, and Trustee Carmen Rue want to abandon the village manager form of government altogether but disagree on when to attempt to schedule a referendum.

Rue wants to hold a referendum at the next mayoral election in April 2016 so voters can decide on a mayor who will have the added duties of CEO of the village.

Rue said she isn't confident that the four trustees will agree on a candidate.

"They (the other village trustees) want to put their friend there," she said. "They want a puppet. I am not even interested in going to those meetings."

The job will pay roughly $70,000 annually, with benefits.

Several short-tenured village managers have quit or been fired as a result of board infighting.

Jenkins said all four trustees should agree on a candidate to give that person a chance of succeeding.

"It is so contentious now with three board members deciding everything," Jenkins said.

Jenkins said he will attend the selection meetings but will "let the board decide."

"It is better if I back off," he said. "I am not going to fight it too hard. I will agree and we will move forward with it."